Smoking Ban Is Healthy Choice

OPINION - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

APPARENTLY SOME SMOKERS in Seminole County government buildings are quite upset over a proposed smoking ban in those buildings.

Much controversy over smoking policies stems from lack of knowledge about the harm of second-hand smoke. Here is a summary of the facts:

Even before we had numerous scientific studies, it should not have been surprising to learn that passive smoking was harmful. We knew that cigarette smoke contains many cancer-producing chemicals and that they are concentrated because they are not filtered through the length of the cigarette.

Now, numerous studies clearly show an increase in lung cancer from environmental cigarette smoke. But for those people not convinced by studies showing a statistical association, a study has just been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

It was done on people who died of causes other than lung disease and showed a significantly increased incidence of pre-cancerous changes in the bronchial mucosa in non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.

The adverse effects of second-hand smoke don't end with lung cancer alone. Studies show detrimental effects on the heart and lung damage other than cancer.

It is clear that people in a free society have a right to kill themselves by smoking. But they have no right to take anyone else with them.

There is no rational reason for allowing smoking in any area where other people are forced to breathe the smoke.